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Overview

One way to reduce the devastating fatalities and economic losses of earthquakes is to minimize the vulnerability of civil infrastructure. This can be achieved through infrastructure strengthening and/or implementation of structural control. Structural control can be broadly characterized into three categories: active, passive, and semi-active. Of the three, semi-active control has recently received increased attention due to its adaptability, minimal power requirement, and inherent stability. The Resetting Semi-Active Stiffness Damper (RSASD) has proven effective in reducing the response of structures in the presence of near-field ground motions. The device, however, could be much simpler and produce similar results as demonstrated by the RSPSD.

The RSPSD utilizes a primarily mechanical system that achieves resetting without the need for a complex feedback control system. The mechanical system replaces the encoder and micro-controller components of the RSASD, thereby enhancing the reliability of the damper during a seismic event.

Tech ID: 12015 

Patent(s):

Inventor

Kenneth K. Walsh, Ph.D. Professor of Civil Engineering